about

This album "LONG LIVE THE LIE" is a bit of a departure from what people might be used to from Big Phony and his singer-songwriter acoustic sound. (If that's what you're looking for I've simultaneously released an album titled "BOBBY" to uphold that tradition and familiarity (if any). Please check that album out too, thanks!)

My older brothers listened heavily to 80's new wave and that sound/genre really made an impression on me during my formative years. In early 2013, a friend of mine asked me if I could write a song in that style for a scene in an independent movie of his ("Chu & Blossom") and so I made the song "All Bets Are Off". I had so much fun with it that I decided I wanted to try more. I really didn't have a set plan to attempt an album but I was having so much fun that things kind of just unfolded the way it did. That's why I really made this album, because it was fun. I enjoyed taking a break from my normal routine of building songs mainly around lyrics and an acoustic guitar.

I started out writing all the "Long Live The Lie" songs on my laptop, really with limited knowledge of making electronic music. I asked my producer/artist friend Enik Lin (of electro pop band IAMMEDIC) for his help. He graciously agreed so I flew out to Taiwan and also Los Angeles to work with him. We transferred what I had (or what was useful) to his system and he helped bring this vision to life. For most of the songs he took the crappy beats I made and switched them out with better sounds. He also helped with making the beats and synths I had more dynamic in the arrangements by taking apart, stripping away, adding on to, and so on. On top of all that, he mixed the album as well. It was incredibly educational working with him. Such an incredible talent and true friend.

There are literally countless people I need to thank from the bottom of my heart for helping to make these albums possible. You all know who you are and I hope to repay you in being just as great to you as you've been to me over the years. Can't wait to see you all. God bless you and keep you.

contact / help

Same time next week
I'll need to recover with the same kind of relief
Turning the wheel on constant repeat
I'll spring for another...

Charge to the blood
Electric pulse through my veins

A skip in my step, a lack in the armory
With a forecast - ill regret
Start it again for one last retreat
Signs of the times...

And a charge to the blood
A chain reacted pulse runs through my veins

Track Name: All Bets Are Off

"ALL BETS ARE OFF"

All, all bets are off
Now, ready or not
You coming or what?
Get it, give it your all
At last, you shakedown what's in the past
Now on to the next one

All, all bets are off
Now, ready or not
You coming or what?
Get it, give it your all
At last, you shakedown what's in the past
Now on to the next one

Track Name: The Great I Am

"THE GREAT I AM"

Lay your cares to rest
Don't forget the voices in your head
What you need to know, you already know
And everything you need, and planned, and all that you wanted

Raise the bar to interfere with all ends
Heed the words beyond our years
What you've already known

To each his own un-called-unique behavior
You are underexposed

I Am…
I Am…

I believe in The Great I Am
Heed the cost, we are not the lost, no

To each his own un-called - unique behavior
You are underexposed

Under a heavy fire
Over a great divide
Under a grand design

Track Name: No Need to Hang Your Head

"NO NEED TO HANG YOUR HEAD"

To all who are lost, to all who are poor and are weary
No need to hang your head
The hour is near, you were not left alone

I thought I told you that I won't let go, no I won't
Won't let you out of my sight
Won't let you out of my sight

The eye of the storm
Breaking down walls uncontended
I kept you safe from all the fire and flame
I kept you away from it all

I thought I told you that I won't let go, no I won't
Won't let you out of my sight
Won't let you out of my life

Track Name: The Hours

"THE HOURS"

A view of the courtyard from your hospital bed
I waited the hours, while you talked to the dead
And watered the flowers, held on to your hand
I don't want it to end this way

I'm not ready to lose you
I'm not ready for what you came here to do
Without putting up a fight
At least for another day

We walked through the alley to get to the car
That's where you stopped me to tell me what you knew all along
That our love was a lot like, singing a song
and you don't want it to end this way, today
Without sense of reason, without you

I'm not ready to lose you
I'm not ready for what you came here to do
Without putting up a fight
At least for another day

Track Name: Bedford Stop

"BEDFORD STOP"

I'll meet you in the afternoon
Don't worry, I can come to you
I'll meet you at the Bedford stop
Won't matter what you say
I only need to see your face
and I'll know what you're going through

So how you doing now, sister?

Call it what you want to call it
No need to lie to me
Take only what you need
I'll never let you down
Always gonna be around
Even when you want me gone

So how about it now, sister?
One look is all I need
Sister, don't cry

It's only when you fall apart
Then you really recognize where you started
And it's the same for me
Seeing you will comfort me
Just thought I'd let you know...

Track Name: Long Live the Lie

"LONG LIVE THE LIE"

All the kids want it, long live the lie
All the kids want it, long live the lie
All the kids want it, long live the lie
All the kids want it, long live the lie

How bad do you want it
What's gone in a matter of time
Everyone's talking about it
But what's to know…

I gotta have it

I can't believe it's starting again
I can't believe it's starting again
I can't believe it's starting again
I can't believe it's starting again

All the kids want it, long live the lie
All the kids want it, long live the lie
All the kids want it, long live the lie
All the kids want it, long live the lie

Track Name: Help of a Ghost

"HELP OF A GHOST"

I wrote a note on your window today
With the help of a ghost who could feel my pain
I should have known, not to stake it all on you

There in a room full of shallow reviews
You bound, me still, by the way you moved
I caught a break as time stood still, that day

But when did I go wrong?
and where did I go wrong - with you?

It was all, all too good to be true
Moving on is a cost, is to lose
So I'll go find a place on the road to losing you

But what have I become?
And when did I go wrong?
I'll leave to make things right by you
For you

Track Name: Empty Bottles

"EMPTY BOTTLES"

I know you feel it
I know you can't deny it
And all I'm saying is
Hell, why not
It's worth a shot
Inch your feet in
Eyes ahead
Make a move and follow through

And I know it ain't easy
But time can make your level align
So do me a favor
Can I erase your worries / mistakes we've made?

You notice the ceiling
You wait for a moment of truth
But it's not coming at all to you
You're holding too tight
You won't get it right, till you
You need to let go of the pest

Track Name: Waiting On a Breeze (Without a Word)

"WAITING ON A BREEZE (WITHOUT A WORD)"

Was waiting on a breeze to knock me off my feet
When you came through, and took me out
They could tell us where to go, but I don't want to know
How bodies break, I rather look the other way

Without a word or even a lead
I can't figure it out, why'd you leave?
Now I look in places we once talked about
Anywhere you might be, you might be...

Most would walk away, but I can hardly wait
My body aches, but I like the pain
Only one thing left unsaid
"너를 사랑해"

I look for you now

Without a word or even a lead
I can't figure it out, why'd you leave?
Now I look in places we once talked about
Anywhere you might be, you might be...